Rick Pitino: I was ‘not ripping anybody’ on Sunday
After Sunday’s 68-62 loss to Seton Hall on Sunday, St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino heavily criticized his team and the team’s facilities–which sparked controversy, stating that this season was the “most unenjoyable experience” he’s ever had coaching.
He criticized players Joel Soriano, Chris Ledlum, Sean Conway and Drissa Traore for their lack of athleticism, saying they were “slow laterally.” He also called freshman guard Brady Dunlap “physically weak,” adding that the team was “so non-athletic that we cannot guard anyone without fouling.”
Pitino doubled down on his comments Monday, though he stated he “was not ripping anybody.”
“I was pointing out exactly — in a monotone voice — why we lost,” he said, according to Newsday. “I am not always calm and certainly not when I rip someone … I was not ripping anybody.
“I sometimes want my players to hear my words and read my words. That was my intention [Sunday] … I’m fine with what I said.”
Pitino could’ve said worse, but openly throwing unprompted jabs at your players to the media (when he wasn’t asked about them, specifically) is definitely considered “ripping” into them, even if it’s not the manner that you (Pitino) classify it in.
“I was asked the question, ‘Why do you blow second-half leads?’ And I can tell you sometimes it’s missed free throws at the end of the game and [opponents] make free throws,” Pitino said. “Sometimes, it’s a turnover. Sometimes, it’s bad shot selection that leads to run-outs. It’s not the same reason every time.
“But it’s the same reason every time of why you foul: You foul because you take a bad shot, you get caught in a bad situation defensively, and you are not overly quick laterally. So, when you go to [defend] the basket, rather than beat them to the spot, you foul. That’s what I was trying to point out.”
Even though he’s not shy to controversy, Pitino, 71, is one the most accomplished coaches in the sport. He’s amassed 725 career wins, won two national titles, advanced to seven Final Fours and has won over a dozen conference tournament championships in the Big East, Conference USA, SEC, American East and MAAC conferences.
Whether his players respond to said comments or not is a different story. St. John’s has lost three straight, five of its last six and eight of its last 10 after starting 12-4. It will take on a struggling Georgetown team Tuesday evening before two straight Quad 1 contests against Creighton (home) and Butler (road).
They are on the outside-looking-in on the NCAA Tournament conversation; for perspective, the Bracket Matrix does not have them listed, with Villanova and Providence as the only two Big East at-large candidates getting NCAA Tournament consideration outside of UConn, Marquette, Creighton, Butler and Seton Hall. According to the latest NIT Bracketology projections (32 teams), St John’s is listed as a No. 2 seed.
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